Minister of State delivers New Year address to Monaco Government: “A strong Government for an attractive Principality”

Vœux du Ministre d’Etat à l’Administration monégasque © Manuel Vitali - Direction de la Communication

On Thursday 12 January, H.E. Pierre Dartout, the Minister of State, led the Government’s New Year address for this year before the assembled heads of department.

Surrounded by members of the Prince’s Government, he gave a message to the senior officials in his administration which was imbued with optimism and a sense of vigilance given the particularly “worrisome” international context caused by the war in Ukraine and its impact, not least on inflation, as well as the alarm signals from increasingly frequent climate disruptions.

“Against this background, the Principality of Monaco has been able to maintain its quality of life and competitive economy. This dynamism is reflected by the continuation of our infrastructure policy, which is shaping the Monaco of tomorrow. Of particular note is the delivery of state-owned apartments ahead of the schedule announced in 2019,” said the Minister of State.

Naturally, the Minister spoke of the challenges around transport and the Government’s determination to open up the Principality and help residents and commuters to get around more easily. “This has a direct impact on our attractiveness, but in this area we, unfortunately, do not have a magic wand. We will need to find solutions in consultation with France,” said Pierre Dartout.

On the international stage, 2023 will be “a decisive but not definitive year in terms of the negotiations on an association agreement with the European Union. In conducting these discussions, we are guided by the Principality’s best interests – in other words, we are sticking to the red lines set out by the Sovereign Prince.”

Emphasising the exemplary and genuine cohesion across Government, the Minister of State highlighted two new initiatives that will change the way that the State works, welcoming their timely implementation. The first of these is budget and accounting reform, “essential, as it will enable us to better understand our revenue and expenditure and thereby deliver a more effective State”. The second is the implementation of the new status of civil servants and new measures benefiting government officials, highlighting more than ever “the balance between the rights of civil servants and officials and their duties, which I would describe as special, as they are all involved in delivering our public policies for local people.”

After setting out the Government’s missions and activities, which will need to be strengthened to increase the country’s attractiveness, whether on education, health, security or the international stage, Pierre Dartout concluded with a call to arms: “I am happy that I can count on your willingness, your motivation and your commitment, which are vital to the country’s cohesion. Alongside a dynamic private sector, we need a strong State capable of regulating and implementing major public policies. I know I can count on you.”